Tom O'Connor Group

Economic and management consulting firm

Category Archives: Railroads

Labor Day, 2021

  Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September celebrating the economic and social contributions of workers. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held …

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While the Rest of the World Celebrates Pi Day…

This Old Cantilever Train Signal in Needles, California, was dedicated on Pi Day 2015 (i.e. 14 March 2015). According to City of Needles Mayor Edward T. Paget, Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad donated the old railroad cantilever signal in early 2013, the Friends of the Needles Centennial raised money for the moving and placement project, …

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Amtrak and Coronavirus Safety

  Amtrak is leading the way by setting a new standard of travel with enhanced safety and cleaning measures. With a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have studied, analyzed and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience – from …

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Labor Day, 2019

  Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September celebrating the economic and social contributions of workers. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held …

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Scottish Railways from the 1930’s

  Railways in Scotland. The Forth Bridge. Good general views of Glasgow. Trams pass. Buchanan Street, St. Vincent Street. LMS steamer. Dunoon. Street market and fish harbour of Aberdeen. A swing bridge. Loch Lomond pleasure boat trip. Inversnaid.. Coach trip to the Trossachs. Train trip. Oban. Isle of Iona with tourists walking up slipway. The …

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The Strathspey Steam Railway

  We were in Aviemore, Scotland in August of 2015.   I got some good pictures of the train from that bridge – and some photos of the engineer backing the train up.  We were able to get tickets for a train leaving in about 15 minutes.  For the way up to Broomhill, we sat …

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World’s Highest Rail Track Reached Everest Gateway City

CNN — The world’s highest railway rolls even closer to Mount Everest this month when China inaugurates a stretch of track connecting the Tibetan cities of Lhasa and Shigatse. Traversing valleys, mountains and crossing the glacier-fed Brahmaputra River, the line takes in breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks and majestic plateaus as it wends from the …

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Today is Labor Day.

  Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September celebrating the economic and social contributions of workers. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held …

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Penn Station, NYC, Derailments and Repairs

  Amtrak officials knew for years that they would have to replace large sections of deteriorating track in Pennsylvania Station in New York City. As engineering crews applied short-term fixes to rows of rotted ties, crumbling concrete and eroded steel, some of their managers repeatedly warned of the growing need to address underlying problems. While …

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Philadelphia turning railroad ruins into elevated Rail Park

  After more than 10 years of planning, Philadelphia is taking the first steps in transforming an abandoned, overgrown rail line that cuts through the heart of the city into a lush and lively public park. Officials broke ground last month on the first phase of the Rail Park, the City of Brotherly Love’s answer …

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